New Delhi: A state of emergency will be imposed in Sri Lanka from midnight Monday following the deadly Easter attacks that killed over killed 290 people and wounded more than 500, the president’s office said.

The special measures are being taken to allow the police and the three forces (army, navy and air force) to ensure public security, the statement said.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena, it added.

The emergency would target terrorism and would not limit freedom of expression, the statement added.

An indefinite curfew ordered on Sunday after the attacks was lifted early Monday but a two-day holiday was decreed in a bid to reduce public traffic, the statement added.